Separable connector for electrical cables



March 8, 1955 D. WOODHEAD, J R

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR EOR ELECTRICAL CABLES 2 ShQQ'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.21, 1950 IN V EN TORI Daniel Wood head,

March 8, 1955 n. WOODHEAD, JR 2,703,371

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES Filed Dec. 21, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.'- Daniel WoodheadJr.

United States Patent '0 SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICAL CABLES DanielWoodhead, Jr.,. Winnetka, Ill., assignor to Daniel Woodhead Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 21, 1950,Serial No. 201,940

7 Claims. (Cl. 339 -189) The present invention relates in general toelectrical connectors and more particularly to a separable connectorassembly for use in connecting electrical conductors, the invention moreespecially relating to means for connecting conductors in operativeelectrical relationship against separation due' to the application ofopposing tension thereon. In its more specific aspects the inventionconcerns electrical connectors of the sort wherein cooperating membersforming the connector may be coupled together againstseparation thereofby relative turning movement of one of the members with respect to theother.

In turn locking connectors of the character mentioned, it is of coursenecessary to mount the electrical connecting parts and the lockingelements, in the cooperating coupling members of a connector, withsufiicient firmness and rigidity to maintain the same in operativeposition when the cooperating connector members are coupled together.Accordingly, it has heretofore been considered necessary to providecoupling members comprising support elements of relatively rigidmaterial. on which the electrical connecting elements and. theinterlocking parts are mounted rigidly and thus supported in operativeposition firmly against deflection. or displacement therefrom. Whilemany considerations make it desirable'to form the support elements ofelectrical connectors of resilient rubber-like material, ithasheretofore been considered impractical to utilize such resilientmaterial in the support elements of locking, connectors because of thediificulty of anchoring especially the locking parts on such: resilientsupport elements in fashion preventing deflection or displacementthereof to an extent allowing the parts to become released and henceseparable when in locking "position or relation.

As a consequence,.nosatisfactory turn locking connector structure hasheretofore been provided having support elements comprising resilientrubber-like material and incorporating the several desirablecharacteristics, including hligh fracture resistivity, inherent in suchresilient materia An important object of the present inventionth'usis toprovide a satisfactory turn lock electrical: connector structureembodying electrical connector and mechanical locking elements mountedon support, elements of resilient rubber-like material; a further objectbeing to provide improved arrangements for mounting the electricalconnecting and mechanical locking parts on the resilient supportelements in such fashion that the said parts are held againstdisplacement sufiiciently to allow the same to perform their respectivefunctions when the connector members are interlocked in coupledrelation.

Another object of the inventionis to mount the electrical connector andmechanical interlock elements of a coupling device upon a. supportstructure of disc-like form providing means whereby the same may bemounted at its edge in an annular groove formed in a resilient supporthousing and thus held against dislodgment therefrom.

Another object is to prevent relative rotation of the disc-like supportstructure in the resilient housing structure by forming a tongue on onestructure in position to interfit in a notch in theother; a furtherobject being to provide the notch in the edge of the disc structure andthe tongue as an integral part of the resilient housing structure; astill further object being. to form the housing structure with aninternal groove for interfittingly receiving the edge of the discstructureand to form the -tor element; carrying electrical tongue in.said groove in position to interlock in the edge notch of the discstructure.

Another object is to prevent relative rotation of a disc-likeelectrical. connector support in its resilient housing by forming thehousing with a socket for receiving a prong on the support; a furtherobject being to form the housing with an internal groove forinterfittingly receiving the edges of the support disc and to form theprong on the 'face of the disc in position to engage in the socket atright angles to the plane of the groove mounted disc and offset withrespect to the center of the mounted disc.

A further object is to provide a two part separable connector in whicheach part embodies a resilient housing element carrying cooperableelectrical connector elements, whereby electrical connection maybe madebetween the cooperating electrical connector elements; on the parts, byaxially coupling the parts together, and'in which the parts maythereafter be locked against uncouplingm'ovement by relatively turning:the parts While in coupled position.

Another object is to provide a two part connectorcomprising a prongedpart having an axially projecting blade or blades and a socket partformed to interfittingly receive the blade or blades of the pronged partin position electrically connecting the blade or blades with connectionelements of the socket part, upon axial couplement of the parts, whereinthe said connection elements are supported'on a disc structure anchoredagainst turning in a resilient housing, the blades being likewisesupported on a'disc anchoredagainst turning movement in a resilienthousing, the blades beingv formed for interlocking engagement with thedisc structure of the socket element, in response to relative turningmovement of the parts 'inone direction when in. coupled relation, tothereby lock the parts against axial'separation, said prongs andconnection elements being formed with cooperating latch means: adaptedyieldingly to resist turning movement of the parts in the opposite"direction when latched.

Another important object is to mount the connection elements of thesocket part on a disc structure of insulating material in such fashionthat no uninsulated conducpotential, is exposed outwardly of the socketpart.

Numerous other important objects, advantages and inherent functions ofthe invention will become apparent as'the same is; more fully understoodfrom'the following description, which, taken with theaccompanyingdrawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Refer-ring to the drawings:

Fig. 1- isaperspective view of an electrical connectorembodyingthednvention and showing the parts in position to be coupledtogether by axial movement thereof;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view showing the elements of the connector;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views, respectively, taken substantiallyalong the lines 33- and 4 4 in Fig. 2;.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of a blade element forming a partof theconnector;

Fig; 6 is a top plan view of the blade element shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken through the coupling,substantially along the line 7--7 in Fig; 2, and showingthe electrical.connector parts thereof respectively in theposition which' they assumeafter axial coupling .of the parts and immediately prior to the relativeturning of the parts in locking the same;

Fig. 8 is a sectional. view, similar to Fig. 7, showing the parts inlockedposition;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along theline 9-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view of elements comprising a blade mountingassembly forming a part of one coupling unit of the connector; and

Fig. 11 is an exploded view of elements comprising a socket assmeblyforming apart of the other assembly associated-coupling unit of theconnector.

To illustrate the invention, the drawings show an electrical: connectorcomprising; a pronged unit 15' and a cooperating socket unit 17 adaptedto interfittinglyengage with the pronged unit in making electricalconnection therebetween. Each unit includes a housing 19 and an assembly21 mounted in the housing and comprising rigid support means 23 andelectrical connection making elements 25 mounted securely on and carriedby the support means.

The function of the connector units 15 and 17 is to provide for thedetachable connection for the ends of a pair of electrical cables 27,each comprising conductors 29 which are respectively connected with theconnection making elements 25 of the connector units, so that the cableconductors may be electrically connected when the connector units arepositioned in interfitting relationship. The connector units also areformed with cooperating locking means operable to secure the unitsfirmly together in interfitting relationship against separation inresponse to tensional stresses applied to the cables 27 in a directiontending to pull the units apart when in coupled relationship. Thehousings 19 preferably comprise hollow casings or body portions moldedor otherwise formed of resilient rubber-like material. The rigid supportmeans 23 of the units are preferably of disc-like character and formedof relatively rigid insulating material, the same being secured each inits corresponding housing by interfitrnent of its peripheral edgeportions in corresponding internal grooves formed in the housing.

Referring now more particularly to the pronged unit 15, its housing isformed internally to provide a medial chamber 31 extending axially ofthe housing and opening outwardly of the housing at one end thereofthrough an opening 33 sized to snugly receive the cable 27. At itsopposite end the housing is formed with a shallow preferably circularcavity 35 of diameter substantially larger than that of the chamber 31and disposed concentrically with respect to said chamber which opensinto the bottom of the cavity, the top of the cavity opening outwardlyof the housing. The housing walls defining the cavity 35 are formed withan annular groove 37 opening inwardly into the cavity 35; and the bodyof said housing is formed with one or more anchoring sockets 39 havingaxes disposed parallel with respect to the axis of the chamber 31, saidsockets being located in the body of the housing outwardly of thechamber and opening into the cavity 35 at its bottom. As shown, a pairof said sockets may be provided in diametrically opposed position in thehousing.

The support means 23 of the assembly 21 of the pronged unit preferablycomprises a circular disc 41 of relatively rigid insulating materialhaving a central opening or perforation 43 and carrying the connectionmaking elements 25 securely mounted on the disc in accurately spacedrelation outwardly of the opening 43. These connection making elementsof the pronged unit each preferably comprise a blade element 45 ofsuitable preferably metallic electrical conducting material. Each of theelements 45 preferably comprises a blade or prong portion 47 and anintegral base or mounting portion 49 disposed substantially at rightangles with respect to the prong portion. The base portion of each bladeelement is preferably of kidney shaped marginal configuration as shownmore particularly in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so that said base portionhas a curved outer edge 51 substantially conforming with the circularedge of the disc 41. The blade portion 47 extends from the base portionpreferably at the side thereof opposite from the curved edge 51 and ispreferably located at one end of the base. At said end the base isformed with a perforation 53 forming a rivet hole. The base also, at itsother end, is formed with a preferably threaded opening 55 adapted tothreadingly receive the correspondingly threaded shank of a bindingscrew 57. The base portion 49, at its edge adjacent the opening 55, isalso provided with an upstanding ear 59 in position extending at theouter margin of the head of the screw 57 when the same is screwed downsnugly in the threaded opening 55.

Each of the blade elements 45 may be secured in accurately spacedrelation on the disc 41 by means of a corresponding rivet 61 comprisinga locating pin. Each of these rivets has a peg-like portion 63, a medialseating flange 65 and a shank 67. The disc 41 outwardly of its centralopening 43, and preferably in diametrical opposition therein, may beformed with openings 69 sized to snugly receive the shank portions ofthe rivets. Accordingly, the rivet elements 61 may be assembled on oneside of the disc by inserting the shanks 67 thereof through the openings69, said shanks having length sufficient to project the ends thereof atthe opposite side of the disc. The blade elements 45 may then be mountedon the opposite side of the disc with the projecting ends of the rivetelements extending in and through the rivet openings 53 of the baseportions of the blade elements, and the ends of the shanks may beriveted tightly upon said base portions to secure the same firmly uponthe disc, in properly spaced relation, with the prong portions 47projecting in parallel spaced apart relation and at right angles withrespect to the plane of the disc. The blade elements are thus mounted onthe disc in position with the curved edges of this base portionsdisposed slightly inwardly of the periphery of the disc; and, in orderto prevent relative turning movement of the elements about the axes ofthe rivets, the disc 41 is provided with openings 71 sized to snuglyreceive the threaded shanks of the binding screws 57 so that the samemay serve as anchoring dowels in the openings 71 to hold each itscorresponding blade element against turning movement about the axis ofthe riveted locating pins 61.

Each of the blade portions 47 is preferably provided with a laterallyextending ear 73 in an edge thereof and forming a locking shoulder 75facing toward the base portion 49 of the blade element, said lockingshoulders extending in the same tangential relationship with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the pronged unit, the shoulders 75, incooperation with corresponding locking portions of the cooperatingsocket connector unit 17, being adapted to effect the locking of theparts in response to relative turning movement of the connector units,as hereinafter more fully described.

If desired, one of the blade portions may be provided with an offsetportion or car 77 on the side thereof opposite from the ear 73, said ear77 being provided in polarizing connector structures, that is to sayconnectors by means of which the cables of one conductor 27 may each beelectrically connected only with a corresponding conductor of the othercable. The additional overall width provided by the blade having the ear77 will prevent such relatively wide blade from being received in asocket portion of the socket unit 17 sized for the reception of anarrower blade, thus assuring that the units may be coupled togetheronly in predetermined polarized relationship. Each of the blades also ispreferably provided with a perforation 79 near the end thereof remotefrom the base portion 49, for a purpose hereinafter more fullydescribed.

The assembly 21 of the pronged unit may be mounted in its housing byflexing outwardly the edges of the housing defining the cavity 35 tothereby allow the edges of the disc portion to be received and snuglyheld in the groove 37. When the assembly is so mounted in the housingthe peg portions 63 of the locating pin rivets may be received in thesockets 39 in order to spline the parts together against relativerotation of the assembly with respect to the housing and thereby firmlymounting the blades on the housing in assembled position projecting inparallel spacedrelation at an end of the housing. The cable 27 may beattached and electrically connected to the pronged unit by inserting anend thereof through the opening 33 and the chamber 31. The bared ends ofthe conductors 29 may extend through the central opening 43 of the discand be respectively connected electrically each with its correspondingblade element 45 by means of the binding screws 57. If desired, acircular cover disc 81, preferably formed from a relatively thin sheetof insulating material and having a pair of blade receiving slots 83,may be provided for assembly in position with the blades 47 extendingthrough the slots 83, so that the disc 81 may cover the end of thehousing and conceal the exposed ends of the conductors, the baseportions 49 of the blades and the heads of the binding screws 57.

Referring now particularly to the socket unit 17, its housing is formedinternally to provide a chamber 85 at one end of the housing, saidchamber being preferably of narrow elongated rectangular sectionalshape. Said chamber opens outwardly of the housing at one end thereofthrough 21 preferably circular opening 87 formed at the bottom of thechamber, said opening being sized to snugly receive the cable 27. At itsopposite end the housing is formed with a preferably circular cavity 89open- '5 ing outwardly of the housing and communicating with the chamber85 at the bottom of thecavity-89. The housing walls defining the cavity89 are formed to provide an annular groove 91 opening inwardly upon thecavity said groove being interrupted, preferably at diametricallyopposed sides of the housing, by transverselocking ribs 93. comprisingintegral portions of the housing body.

The support means 23 of the assembly 21 of the socket unit preferablycomprises a plurality of discs or plates. secured in stackedrelationship and preferably having circular peripheral configuration,the connection making elements 25 of the socket unit 17 being rigidlymounted on said stacked discs of the assembly.

The contact making elements 25 of the socket unit 17 each comprises aformed sheet metal element 95pmviding a central strip portion 97 havingan offset flange formed at one end to provide a mounting base 99extending on one side of the portion 97 and having a rivet hole 101formed therein. Each element 95 at the end of the portion 97 remote fromthe base 99 has a connection portion or lug 103 bent from the bodyportion 97 on the side thereof opposite from the base flange 99 andformed with a preferably threaded opening 105 sized for the reception ofconductor clamping screws 107. Each of the elements 95 also has a pairof arms 109 extending at the sides of the body portion 97 and inclinedtherefrom on the side thereof opposite from the base flange 99 so thatthe central portion 97 and the arms 109 of each element present agenerally arcuate configuration as shown more especially in Figs. 7 and8 of the drawings. One of the arms 109 of each element is provided withan opening 111 formed to receive a fastening element 113 such as a rivetbymeans of which a spring clip' 115 may be secured on each of theelements 95 in position extending transversely across the arms 109 andthe central portion 97, a spring clip being thus mounted on each of theelements 95. Each spring clip thus has an end portion secured to an arm109 of its carrying element by means of the fastening element whichpasses through an opening 117 in the end portion of the spring clip,said end portion being flanged as at 118 to extend around and engage theend of the arm 109 on which the clip is mounted. Each clip is formedwith a generally arcuate offset portion 119 formed to bear against thearm of the element remote from the arm thereof on which the spring clipis preferably provided with a latching protuberance 121 in positionextending toward the facing surface of I the arm 109 opposite which saidarcuate portion extends.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the rigid support means 23 ofthe socket unit preferably comprises three discs 123, 125, 127, the disc123 being sized to fit snugly in the groove 91 of the housing and havingnotches 129 formed in its edges, preferably in diametral oppositiontherein, said notches being positioned and sized to snugly receive theribs 93 of the housing. The discs 125 and 127 are sized to fit snuglywithin the open end of the chamber 89 of the housing outwardly of thegroove 91. 1

The disc 123 is also formed with a pair of openings 131 in diametricallyopposed relation in the body of the disc. These openings preferably havestraight sides 133 at one end of the openings and curved portions 135 atthe opposite ends of the slots, said slots being slightly wider than thecombined thickness of the prongs 45 and the portions 97 of the elements95. Immediately outwardly of the straight sides 133 of the openings 131,the disc 123- is formed with rivet holes 137. Accordingly, the elements95 may be mounted and secured in spaced relation on the disc 123 bydisposing the lower ends of the element portions 97 in the openings 131,with the base flanges 99 extending beneath the disc in position aligningthe openings 101 and 137, the parts being secured together by means ofrivets or other suitable fastening elements 139 extending in the soaligned openings. When so positioned, the outer faces of the elementportions 97, at the lower end of said portions, are held in engagementwith the outer straight sides 133 of the openings 131, the upperportions of the elements 95 including the arms 109, the connection lugs103 and the clips 115 being supported above the disc 1'23.

The discs 125 and 127 are secured on the disc 123', in concentricalignment therewith by means of rivets or other suitable fasteningelements 141 which extend in aligned openings 143, 1 45, 147 formedrespectively in the discs 123', 125 and 1-27'. The disc125 is formedwith edge notches 149' sized andpositioned therein to receive themounting flanges 99 of the elements 95 in anchored position on andbeneath the disc 123. The disc 125 is also formed with arcuate openings151 which may communicate at one end with the bottoms of the edgenotches 149, said arcuate openings being slightly wider than thethickness of the prongs 45 and being thus adapted freely to receive saidprongs upon insertion thereof endwise in an axial direction in saidopenings. These openings 151, furthermore, are disposed in the disc 125in position aligned with the curved portions of the openings 135adjacent the innermost edge of the said curved portions. The disc 127also is formed with arcuate curved openings 153, 153 disposed therein inposition to register with the curved openings 151 and the disc 125. Inconstructions where one of the prongsisformed, for polarity purposes,with an extension or ear like the car 77 shown in Fig. 5, one of theopenings, such asthe opening 153, may be made correspondingly largerthan the other opening or openings so that the pronged and socketedunitsmay be connected only by inserting the enlargedprong or prongsin'correspondingly enlarged openings sized to receive the same. As shownmore particularly in Fig. 11, the opening 153 is relatively longer thanthe opening 153'.

The assembly 21 of the socket unit 17 may be assembled in its housing byfirst passing the end of the cable through the opening 87 and throughthe housing, and connecting the ba-red ends of its conductors 29 to theconnection lugs 103 by means of'the clamping screws 107. Thereupon thecable 27 may be retractedthrough the opening 87 in order to mount theassembly 21 in the housing. This may be accomplished by stretching theopen end of the cavity 89 in order to dispose the peripheral edges ofthe disc 123 in the notch 91 and to interlock the ribs93 in the notches129. When in such position the connection lugs 103 will be disposedwithin the rectangular cavity of the housing with the opposite sideedges of said connection lugs in snug engagement with the opposite sidesof the housing defining said cavity. Relative rotation of the assembly21 in the housing will thus be prevented not only by the engagement ofthe lug bars 93 in the notches 129 but also by the engagement of theconnection lugs 103 in the housing cavity 85. Accord ingly, inconnecting the pronged unit with the socket unit, the housings may bemanipulated to guide the prongs 45 in an axial direction through thealigned openings 153, 151 and 135 into the relative position shown inFig. 7.

The edges 73 of the prongs 45 will extend between the free ends of theclips 115 and the arms 109 of the elements opposite such free ends ofthe clips. The housi ng units may then be relatively turned in order toadvance the blade edges 73 between the clips and the clip supportingelements 95 toward the anchored ends of the clips. During such twistingmovement theassembl'ies 21 of the pronged and socket units may not turnwith respect to the housings in which mounted, because oftheinterlocking action accomplished by the housing portions 93 in thenotches 129, by the lug portions 103 with the sides of the cavity 85,and by the action. of the peg portions 63 in the sockets 39.Accordingly, by manipulation of the housings only the blades. 45 may beturned into position such that the locking shoulders 75 of the bladesmay latch upon locking shoulders 155 provided' by the disc at the endsof the arcuate openings 151. When in such position, the connector unitscannot be separated by forces applied axially in opposite directions onthe connector units as by strain applied thereto through theinterconnected cables 27.

When in locked position, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8 of thedrawings, the latching protuberances 121 of the clips 115 register withthe openings 79 in the prongs 45 and yieldingly resist relative turningmovement in a direction to disengage the locking shoulders 75 from thelocking portions of the socket unit. This latching action, however, isof non-positive character and will not resist positive twisting forcesapplied through the housings of the units in order to unlock the samefor disconnecting separation.

If desired, each of the housings 19 at its cable receiving end may beprovided with a ring 157 molded in the end of the housing and serving toreinforce the same. These rings may each carry a pairofdiametricallyopposed outstanding posts 159, or other suitable supportmeans for securing a cable clamp on the housing, the notched posts 159shown in the illustrated embodiment being of the sort adapted to carryclamp means of the type illustratednn U. S. Patent No. 2,276,559 ofMarch 17, 1942, no claim being made herein to such cable clamping means.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantageswill be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it isobvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein disclosed being the preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In an electric connector, a coupling unit compr1sing a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat, peripherallyof said cavity, ad acent and spaced inwardly of said open end thereof,said housing member also having a conductor cable opening communicatingwith said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat, and aconnection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted on saidhousing and comprising a fiat disc of relatively rigid insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a peripheral edge sizedand configurated to interfittingly extend m said seat forming groovewhereby to detachably secure the mounting plate member, on the housingmember, in mounted position enclosing said open end o f sa1d cav ty,said plate member, when in mounted position, serving also to brace andrigidify the housing member, contact elements rigidly secured in spacedapart relationship on said mounting plate member and extending from aface thereof in a direction to project within said cavity, said contactelementshaving portions, remote from said plate member, in positionextending adjacent said cable opening and means for electricallyconnecting cable conductors on said portions.

2. In an electric connector, :1 coupling unit comprising a moldedelement of flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollowresilient housing member providing a mounting cavity having an open endat an end of said housing member, said housing member being formed withan inwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat,peripherally of said cavity, adjacent and spaced inwardly of said openend thereof, said housing member also having a conductor cable openingcommunicating with said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat,and a connection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted onsaid housing and comprising a flat disc of relatively rigid insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a peripheral edge sizedand configurated to interfittingly extend in said seat forming groove,whereby to detachably secure the mounting plate member, on the housingmember, in mounted position enclosing said open end of said cavity, saidplate member, when in mounted position, serving also to brace andrigidify the housing member, contact elements rigidly secured in spacedapart relationship on said mounting plate member, said plate memberhaving spaced openings formed therethrough, said contact elementscomprising lugs secured on said plate member and arms on said lugsextending from said plate member within said cavity, said openingshaving sufficient width to receive plug contact prongs insertedremovably therethrough from one side of the plate member into positionto make electrical contact with said contact elements on the other sideof the plate member.

3. In an electric connector, a coupling unit comprising a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove from said seat, and a connectionassembly structure,

adapted to be removably mounted on said housing and comprising a fiatdisc of relatively rigid insulating material forming a mounting platemember having a peripheral edge sized and configurated to interfittinglyextend in said seat forming groove, whereby to detachably secure themounting plate member, on the housing member, in mounted positionenclosing said open end of said cavity, said plate member, when inmounted position, serving also to brace and rigidify the housing member,contact elements rigidly secured in spaced apart relationship on saidmounting plate member, said plate member having spaced openings formedtherethrough, said contact elements comprising lugs secured on saidplate member and arms on said lugs extending from said plate memberwithin said cavity, said openings having suffrcient width to receiveplug contact prongs inserted removably therethrough from one side of theplate member into position to make electrical contact with said contactelements on the other side of the plate member, said contact elementshaving portions, remote from said plate member, in position extendingadjacent said cable opening and means for electrically connecting cableconductors on said portions.

4. In an electric connector, a coupling unit comprising a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat, peripherallyof said cavity, adjacent and spaced inwardly of said open end thereof,said housing member also having a conductor cable opening communicatingwith said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat, and aconnection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted on saidhousing and comprising a flat disc of relatively rigid insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a peripheral edge sizedand configurated to interfittingly extend in said seat forming groove,whereby to detachably secure the mounting plate member, on the housingmember, in mounted position enclosing said open end of said cavity, saidplate member, when in mounted position, serving also to brace andrigidify the housing member, contact elements rigidly secured in spacedapart relationship on said mounting plate member, said plate memberhaving spaced openings formed therethrough, said contact elementscomprising lugs extending at and secured on one side of said platemember and arms on said lugs projecting through said openings andextending from the opposite side of said plate member within saidcavity, said openings having sufiicient width to receive plug contactprongs inserted removably therethrough from said one side of the platemember into position to make electrical contact with said contactelements on the other side of the plate member.

5. In an electric connector, a coupling unit comprising a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forrning a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat, peripherallyof said cavity, adjacent and spaced inwardly of said open end thereof,said housing member also having a conductor cable opening communicatingwith said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat, and aconnection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted on saidhousing and comprising a fiat disc of relatively rigid insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a peripheral edge sizedand configurated to interfittingly extend in said seat forming groove,whereby to detachably secure the mounting plate member, on the housingmember, in mounted position enclosing said open end of said cavity, saidplate member, when in mounted position, serving also to brace andrigidify the housing member, contact elements rigidly secured in spacedapart relationship on said mounting plate member, said plate memberhaving spaced openings formed therethrough, said contact elementscomprising lugs extending at and secured on one side of said platemember and arms on said lugs projecting through said openings andextending from the opposite side of said plate member within saidcavity, said openings having sufiicient width to receive plug contactprongs inserted removably therethrough from said one side of the platemember into position to make electrical contact with said contactelements on the other side of the plate member, and a cover disc ofinsulating material secured to said plate member in position coveringsaid lugs, said cover disc having slots formed therein in alinement withsaid spaced openings of the plate member.

6. In an electric connector, a coupling unit comprising a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat, peripherallyof said cavity, adjacent and spaced inwardly of said open end thereof,said housing member also having a conductor cable opening communicatingwith said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat, and aconnection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted on saidhousing and comprising a flat disc of relatively rigid. insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a periphber havingspaced openings formed therethrough, said contact elements comprisinglugs extending at and secured on one side of said plate member and armson said lugs projecting through said openings and extending from theopposite side of said plate member within said cavity, said openingshaving sufiicient width to receive plug contact prongs insertedremovably therethrough from said one side of the plate member intoposition to make electrical contact with said contact elements on theother side of the plate member, a filler disc of insulating materialoverlying said one side of said plate member and having cut out portionssnugly receiving said lugs and registering with said openings, and acover disc of insulating material overlying said filler disc in positioncovering said lugs, said cover disc having slots formed therein inalinement with said spaced openings of the plate member.

7. In an electric connector, a coupling unit comprising a molded elementof flexible rubber-like insulating material forming a hollow resilienthousing member providing a mounting cavity having an open end at an endof said housing member, said housing member being formed with aninwardly opening circumferential groove providing a seat, peripherallyof said cavity, adjacent and spaced inwardly of said open end thereof,said housing member also having a conductor cable opening communicatingwith said cavity at the end thereof remote from said seat, and aconnection assembly structure adapted to be removably mounted on saidhousing and comprising a fiat disc of relatively rigid insulatingmaterial forming a mounting plate member having a peripheral edge sizedand configurated to interfittingly extend in said seat forming groove,whereby to detachably secure the mounting plate member, on the housingmember, in mounted position enclosing said open end of said cavity, saidplate member, when in mounted position, serving also to brace andrigidify the housing member, contact elements rigidly secured in spacedapart relationship on said mounting plate member, said plate memberhaving spaced openings formed therethrough, said contact elementscomprising lugs secured on said plate member and arms on said lugsextending from said plate member within said cavity, said openingshaving sufiicient width to receive plug contact prongs insertedremovably therethrough from one side of the plate member into positionto make electrical contact with said contact elements on the other sideof the plate member, said openings being elongated and circularly curvedand having length greater than the width of said plug contact prongs,and means on said plate member providing a lock shoulder at an end of asaid opening in position to engage with a cooperating lock shoulderformed on a said contact prong.

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